The mood lightens on the final verse when the narrator reveals that despite his woes, he has a girlfriend waiting for him in the titular city.
Musically, the song is orchestrated country pop with a medium tempo and strolling rhythm, with a brief harmonica solo.
Sources differ as to how the distinctive percussive sound at the beginning and end of the song was created.
Dean Martin's daughter, Deana Martin, has recounted her father telling her that the percussive sound was created by tapping an empty Coca-Cola bottle with a spoon,[3] while Hal Blaine once stated that he created the sound by tapping a glass ash tray with a triangle wand.
Apart from a harsh electronic introduction and minor changes to the lyrics, e.g., chasing a £10 note rather than a dollar, The Fall interpretation is faithful to the original's melody and basic structure.